Rabbit Web Discussion Board

harplady Wrote:Just in case you care to look for yourself, the site is (http://www.mnhouserabbit.org). I would like to know how long it was after they confiscated the rabbit did they wait to take those pictures? It sounds like the rabbits were healthy when they picked them up but some got sick later. If they were kept in a toxic situation, wouldn\'t they be sick at the time they were confiscated? Just wondering.

They probably got sick from the stress of being moved around from one place the next.

Austin I couldn\'t afford a lawyer. But i had an off duty cop telling me what to do on the side. And it worked. Best thing to do when something like that happens when they decide to act like a bunch of bullies, is to let them turn their community against them. They usually end up digging their own grave. Ive got the rabbits now, and the funny thing is they can\'t do anything about it. And if they were going to pass that law, the 4-h clubs in the county were ready to boycot them. And some of the leaders were gonna raise a big stink with their own cities by sitting in on the city councils and protest rabbit ownership in them. Ya know, if one city doesnt allow it, then why should they? It made the front page of all the county papers. Which ended up going into other counties in the state. So alot of other rabbit breeders here actually got to read it. And were on standbye to help just in case. Was lol. Because by getting it in the papers, they dug their own pit. Needless to say, they learned their lesson and have stated that they don\'t want to be on the front pages of them again.

Thanks for sharing your stories and your wisdom. I think there is good and bad in every organization, but as long as the HRS and other organizations proclaim that the ONLY way to keep rabbits is as house pets, they will continue to attract a large number of extremests, because such a stance leaves no room for exceptions or compromise. The MN organization makes it look like the condition of these rabbits is the result of the situation they were previously in, and I have a hard time having respect for organizations that use such tactics.

These organizations will use whatever tactics they feel they must in order to get through to the people out there that don\'t know any better. If they have to lie or stretch the truth, that is what they will do. That is why you never let anyone you do not know into your rabbit area. That cute little bunny with an empty bowl because it is feeding time now becomes a poor little bunny that was starving. We all need to do what we can with whatever resources we have to work with. The sad thing is that the really radical organizations are not going to back down and find something else to do. They are gaining members, money, and backing in the legislation. The good thing is that the hobby breeders far out number them and so we need to stay on top of what is going on in our communities as well as around the country. These organizations tend to go where they feel no one is paying attention. One person can\'t fight them alone very easily but together, we can all watch each other\'s backs. And then there is the ignorant people in communities with alittle power like in the case of dixonsrabbitry. You were very lucky to find an ally on the police force to help you get a leg up on them. People tend to hold grudges so I would still not let my guard down with them and I would pay attention to what goes on at every council meeting to make sure they don\'t try to get something passed in an underhanded way.

The MN organization must now try to come up with lots of money to pay for the spaying/neutering and medical costs. The fact that these rabbits were in such good shape has to get people asking questions. With so many rabbits at one time, this has to impact how many rabbits they can accept from animal control and the shelters, which may in turn affect their relationships. Even the HRS has its limits on how much they can handle.

When the story first came out and had emotion behind it, that is when people are inclined to give, but there is no way to keep the momentum up to keep the donations coming in. I am sure they must have put pictures on the web of what people might think was abuse, just because the donations probably dwindled to about nothing. With Brad and Angelina raising money for starving children in Africa, a few rabbits look pretty unimportant right about now.

I wish this breeder could sue for damages. Some lawyers take on civil cases for a percent of the award and charge nothing if they lose, but there would have to be a lot of strong supporting evidence to get a lawyer to take on this case. Does the ARBA have a list lawyers a person can go to for an initial free counciltation?

Austin this same guy has used animal laws against people owning *too many dogs in town.*I know of a lady that had seven pet mini pinschers(I think). He got a complaint on them one day, and made her get rid of two of them claiming there was an ordinance in town that says you can only have no more then five dogs. Well no such thing exhists.

And yeah the other two officers I know in the police force told me to keep my mouth shut, farm out the animals, once the whole thing boils over, get some of them back. It worked. And it made the city look like a fool.

They wont on the council meetings. Some of the members of the city council didnt like the idea of re-doing the whole animal ordinance. And they\'d have to fill out alot of paper work, and grandfather everyone in. They didnt like that idea. And havn\'t brought it up since. Ive found that spreading the word through the community and turning the community against them when it comes to them doing stuff like that works wonders.
Hell even our local animal control said they were wrog for not defining what livestock was in the ordinance. And hes told me before that rabbits dont need much but a good shelter and a good wind break. Which was pretty much what i had to begin with.


And if they tell you that they are going dicuss the animal laws at a certain meeting. You go. If they don\'t bring it up, the smart thing to do is to keep your mouth shut. Saying anything to them will get you into more trouble. Let them start things with you, so it gets out into the papares. Make them look bad. When I went in on that first meeting I went in with a bunch of 4-hers and leaders. When the lawyer never showed up, I told everyone to keep their mouths shut and ride it out.

Even thought he city manager was working against me most of the way on this, he said that was a very smart move to pull on them. That was the best thing I did to keep them from doing it. BUt its over. I have great bunnies.

No trepassing signs are up on the property to keep the city from snooping.


I think alot of the AC and police are just plain stupid and ingorant. Ya know alot of these people are city people that dont really know much about animals. And if they see you have too many, or are breeding some in town, they automatically think you are farming and abusing them. Or breeding them for money. I know some that work for AC and humane societies. im glad they are not like that. Because the bad ones give them a bad name.


take for example the denver breed ban law. If those people were smart, they would get together and fight it. Whether they realize it or not those dog owners, and the dogs were automatically grandfathered in to that law. And by federal law, they can\'t do that. Also people can lawyer and fight for themselves.

Now albiet i am pro animal welfare, and pro-responsible rescues and humane soceties. But if laws and stuff are gonna be passed, they need to focus on the ones actually abusing their animals. rather then shutting someone down just for raising in town. And I think peta and the more extremist orgs are mostly behind it. Because alot of those dont even like rescues having animals.